At 18 years old, Selam was a single mother with no one to turn to for help. She struggled to make ends meet and to provide food and medical care for her 2-year-old son, Amanuel. Selam knocked on doors, searching for support from different organizations and the local government, but she wasn’t able to find help. One day, she heard about the sponsorship program, and a shoe-shiner on the street gave her directions to the office. Sponsorship Program Director Rahel added Amanuel to the sponsorship waiting list, and it wasn’t long before he had a sponsor.
Selam and Amanuel were welcomed into the sponsorship program, and Selam joined a self-help savings group (SHG). Selam had many questions about the Bible that the sponsorship staff answered. She decided to put her faith in Jesus, started attending church, and was baptized.
After a time, Selam accepted a job as a janitor at the sponsorship office. Our communications officer Tinsae says that Amanuel is an active learner in our Sunday school program, and he has made many friends because of his friendly and loving personality.
“Sponsorship transformed our lives,” Selam says. “The program provided school supplies, food support, clothes, shoes, medical treatment payment, and being a member of an SHG. One of my son’s and my favorite things is the letters and the photos his sponsor sends for us. We feel their love and compassion through their letters.”
Thanks to her SHG, Selam sells kitchenware, bottled water, and prepaid phone card minutes. She is on her 5th round of loans to build her business and has paid each of them back on time. She also joined a local savings association, which gave her a loan to buy land in a rural part of Ethiopia. She hopes to build a home there to use as a future asset.
In October, Amanuel turned 8 and celebrated his birthday with friends at the sponsorship office. “He was so happy,” Selam says, remembering the birthday party. “It was his first time celebrating [at the office] and with his friends. He always remembers the soft cake the staff baked him.
Both of us were happy. That day was the day of thanksgiving to our Lord. God blessed him with 8 years. When he was a baby, he was always sick. He was frequently ill with pneumonia. I was always worried and in fear of losing him. [The sponsorship program] paid for his treatments and medication. I was happy remembering those difficult days already passed.”
Through sponsorship, Selam not only found support for her son, but also a new family that shares their struggles, hopes, and joy. The bonds she has formed through the sponsorship program have strengthened her both emotionally and spiritually. She also demonstrates remarkable dedication, compassion and willingness to serve her community in impactful ways. Today, she volunteers to lead SHGs, makes home and hospital visits, and serves at her church.
Sponsorship changes the lives of children, their parents, and the community around them. Would you like to sponsor a child for $40/month? Visit hopeinview.org/sponsorship to get started.